The Importance of Worksheets for Independent Learning

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2. The Importance of Worksheets for Independent Learning

This subsection discusses how worksheets are beneficial to enhance students’ independence in learning. Based on the findings from the questionnaire and interview to both groups of participants, worksheets had values that supported for independent learning practice. The most significant one is that worksheets personalize the learning process in the classroom. Worksheets are distributed with expectation that the students find and learn the information by themselves without over control from the teachers. Also in its evaluation process, students often initially reflect their progress and ability in understanding the material. It is in line with the basic idea of independent learning in which students acquire knowledge by his or her own efforts and develop the ability for enquiry and critical evaluation Candy, 1991. Based on the findings, students are also given opportunities in working on the worksheets; either individually or in group. Often lecturers order students to work individually or in group. Independent learning can be implemented in those ways because independent learning does not always individual learning but group learning that develops teamwork skills. Independent learning is not aimed to form individual and isolated learners, yet to form person who is participating and adaptable in social life Meyer, et.al., 2008. This is equal to Regina’s 1988 statement which says that one of the goals in implanting independent learning is to develop students who can effectively participate in society and meet the challenge of rapid social change. 83 Besides the needs of society, worksheets are also important to fulfill the needs on individuals. Seen from the whole process of worksheets implementation; from determining the purpose until the evaluation process, worksheets are beneficial to sharp learners’ responsibility and participation for their own learning, to improve their self-concept growing confidence and self-esteem, and to grow learners’ motivation. Those needs come to an end in which with worksheets to enhance students’ independence in learning, students would achieve individual adult maturity Regina, 1988. 84

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter presents the conclusions which summarize the major findings discussed in the previous chapter and the suggestions related to the implementation of worksheets by lecturers in teaching-learning process.

A. Conclusions

The objectives of this study were to find out students’ and lecturers’ perception on the use of worksheets in teaching-learning process and how worksheets enhance students’ independence in learning. Therefore, there will be three formulated problems to be concluded.

1. Students’ Perception on the Use of Worksheets in Learning Process

Based on the data gathered, both from the questionnaire and the interview, the majority of students of English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University in 2007 and 2008 batches had positive perception on the use of worksheets in learning process. However, students’ interest and positive perception were not followed with positive behavior responses. External and internal factors could burden the students to achieve the expected learning goals that were to understand the material better and to make students become more independent. Most of the students had positive awareness on the purpose of worksheet. They agreed that worksheets helped them to get, to memorize, and to understand